In this evaluation I am drawing conclusions from the coursework I have completed. This involved undertaking a critical analysis of a variety of art forms that explore the theme of murder mystery. I will be considering how well the art form examples studied have been used in expressing this theme and the methods they have used to do that. In the context of the murder mystery theme there are four pieces of work to discuss involving visual arts, dramatic arts and verbal arts.
The pieces are: a€? The film dick Tracey a€? The painting “Murder” by Paul Cezanne a€? The Yorkshire Ripper a€? The play “The real inspector hound” by Tom Stoppard The Theme Murder and mystery are compelling themes that have always attracted interest and attention. Murder is a dark and gruesome action that can be described as evil but some killing such as destroying the enemy in a war is seen as sad but acceptable. It is all about death and that has a morbid fascination for people as there is something horrible about it. It’s like a nightmare that is unpleasant but also exciting at the same time.
We like to talk about it and wonder about it but we don’t like it to happen to us. Because it is criminal it is also often associated with stories myths and mysteries. Who done it has always been a popular theme in fiction and in reality when murders cannot be solved and when people try to get away with it. Because it is awful and fascinating at the same time it is part of human life that is often covered in art forms. This is probably an attempt to try and make sense of something so cruel but also passionate Dick Tracey As a character Dick Tracey is an example of murder mystery through the detective story and crime genre.
He is depicted as a good guy battling against bad guys and solving puzzles that bring murderers to justice. To do that he has to unpick a mystery and the way he does that by following clues and eliminating possibilities to get his man or woman is dramatic and satisfying. It keeps you guessing and ends up with the truth. This means the audience is taken through a story and is drawn into a dodgy world of gangsters and danger but where there is hope because in the end the good guy wins. The film uses visual art imaginatively to capture the mood and atmosphere of the time and to carry the audience into the drama and the mystery.
It does this by evoking a time, a place and a culture of gangster America through the costumes, sets, cars, props the dialogue of the characters and there manner and behaviour. You know it is a story because it is a bit over the top but this isn’t a mistake it is a way of getting the audience to know it is fictional and that gives it a lighter atmosphere than if it was real. The lighting and the moody style of some of the characters give a mysterious atmosphere and help the audience enter into the fantasy of the underworld.
People know it is fantasy but they can for a while get into that and enjoy that. The Murder by Paul Cezanne This is visual art that depicts murder and mystery quite powerfully. Good visual art is atmospheric this means that it doesn’t just show images but it captures moods and feelings. To do this a picture needs to suggest things and make you wonder about it. The murder does this through its title, the bleak and moody colours, the way action and movement is captured and the intensity of the positioning of the figures.
They are overpowering the victim who is powerless and this is horrible to see. It is an effective dramatic way of showing mystery. The Yorkshire Ripper Unlike the other three pieces studied the incident of the Yorkshire ripper is not fiction it is real. Its about real murders and real mysteries. The story of the ripper could be told in a book or a film or a radio broadcast. I chose to do it through a mocked up newspaper article. This was an opportunity to explore visual art through picture, layout and language.
By using headings and typeface it was possible to make the story visually interesting and then adding in pictures and graphics gave it excitement and emphasised the bits I wanted to emphasise. It brought the drama out of the story. This is a creative way of communicating and made me realise how much power newspaper editors have in shaping stories. The Real Inspector Hound As a play this piece shows dramatic and verbal art in action. It uses the theme of murder and mystery to tell a dramatic story and to take the audience through a mystery.
It is packed with double meanings and uses language and action to entertain the audience. The plot is complicated and confusing so you don’t really know what the truth is. The characters add to the mystery and you wonder what is really going on. Although it is showing murder it is quite light-hearted and this makes it a satisfying and exciting experience for the audience. The direction on the stage with the positioning of the actors and the inclusion of double plots is a method that can be used in theatre to strengthen and add to the experience of mystery. You are left wondering what is really going on and who has killed who?
Drama is an art form that allows directors to interact with an audience like this and manipulate peoples experiences through the actions, behaviour and language of the characters. Conclusion I have been studying how different art forms can be used to depict themes in this case murder and mystery. The pieces above all do this by telling a story that is based on something that fits within this theme but they use different methods, techniques and styles to achieve it. By doing this work I have learnt that there are a variety of possibilities in the different art forms that are used to communicate with people and affect them.
Good pieces of art do this by fascinating people and causing them to wonder about something, to think twice. The main techniques that I have identified that do this in the pieces I have analyised include: Visual art Colour, motion, action, lighting, space, layout, graphics, position Verbal art Speech, dialogue, language, emphasis, accent, volume & intensity Dramatic art Behaviour, character, positioning, scenery, costume, personality, presence, interaction While these are different things they are often used together to create a stronger impact.
They also have common themes and link together because they are all ways of communicating by catching people’s attention and affecting how they feel and what they think. Murder and mystery are dark things that worry and frighten people but also fascinate them. These art forms are ways of exploring some of these areas of human feelings and behaviours.
